The complete automotive resource for buyers, sellers, and owners like you.
Car, Truck and SUV Forums at Roadfly
+ Bentley Forums
+ BMW Forums
+ Cadillac Forums
+ Chevrolet Forums
+ Ferrari Forums
+ Jaguar Forums
+ Lamborghini Forums
+ Lotus Forums
+ Mercedes-Benz Forums
+ Maserati Forums
+ MINI Forums
+ Porsche Forums
+ General Discussion
+ Marketplace Forums
Re: I'll give it a shot... (archive)
[ Follow Ups ] [ 5-series (E12) Message Board ] [ Msg. Board FAQ ]
Posted by Robert Anderson on November 30, 2000 at 01:53:24:

In Reply to: Re: I'll give it a shot... posted by Joe Fazio on November 29, 2000 at 14:46:54:

Here is how it works.

BMW started back in the late '60s and early '70s denoting their bodies with an E and then a number. They also have denoted their motors by an M and then a number, or in special cases an S and then a number.

Here is how the E works
E3 - Bavarias, the 4 door sedan that BMW made in the late '60s and early '70s.
E9 - Coupes as in the 2800cs and the 3.0cs made in the late '60s and early '70s.
E12 - The First 5 Series. Make from late '70s to early '80s.
E21 - First 3 Series. In the US the 320i. In the rest of the world, 320i, and 323i.
E23 - First 7 series.
E24 - The 6 series, all of them. Unfortunately here is a confusing point. BMW called the 6 series by the same E name even though in 1982 they completely changed the suspension and many other things. When talking about 6 series you also need to talk about year.
E28 - The Second Generation 5 Series. Make from '82 to '87.
E30 - Second Generation 3 Series. Built from '83 to '90. Convertables continued to Dec. '92.
E31 - 8 series
E32 - Second Generation 7 series.
E34 - Third Generation 5 series. I would suggest that your car is an E34. This car was built from '89 through '95.
E36 - Third Generation 3 series. Came in such things as the 318ti, and the Z3 verions.
E38 - Third Gen. 7
E39 - Fourth Gen. 5
E46 - Fourth Gen. 3

As for the motors BMW started with the original 4 cylider and has gone from there

M10 - Four cylinder found in 2002 and 320i
M30 - Big Six, based on M10 but with 2 extra cylinders. Found in every large BMW(not 3 series) up to and including the E34.
M20 - Baby Six, smaller displacement 6 cylinder.
S14 - The E30 M3 motor
S38 - The E28 M5 motor and E24 M6 motor also the E34 M5 motor.
M50 - The 24 valve version of the M20
M42 - E30 318is motor and E36 318i motor
M44 - Later version of the M42
M52 - All aluminum version of the M50
S50 - E36 M3 motor

I have not listed every motor, would take up too much space on the list.

If you have any questions please email me privately.

Rob A
M535i SIG Technical Advisor
www.M535i.web.com


Follow Ups:


[ Follow Ups ] [ 5-series (E12) Message Board ] [ Msg. Board FAQ ]
Questions, comments, or problems, please visit the Roadfly help desk.
Roadfly.com Logo © 1997 - 2009 Jump Internet Inc. All rights reserved.